Vaal Thursday

Very tricky looking card, at the price(10/1) Masakela looks a decent bet..


Anyone got any strong fancies?

I'm kind of just missing my trebles so I'm going to try and tip a double and hope it comes home!

Today I fancy the following:

Tellyrand
Opening Night

Just not sure if there is rain scheduled? Seems like there are so many meeting called off due to a shower, not sure when meetings will go ahead.

Happy punting!

Rifleman and Spice Club

JACK MILNER - Trainer Clinton Binda has a strong hand in Race 6 at the Vaal tomorrow, a MR 90 Handicap over 1000m on the turf. He saddles Opening Night and Shalako and preference is for the former.

The son of Sportsworld was rested from June until 27 October when he made his return in a Graduation Plate. He was clearly not fancied that day and probably surprised even his connections by beating Superlative by 1.50 lengths - he started at 66-1.

In the Listed Golden Loom Handicap he was backed from 40-1 to 10-1 but could only manage a 4.25-length fourth to Cool Spender. His next start was in the Grade 2 Merchants over 1160m at Turffontein and once again 40-1 was freely available. Opening Night showed tremendous pace but could not keep it up and finished a 6.25-length third behind Arabian Mist.

It was a similar scenario at the Vaal over 1200m in his next start. He led from the off but was caught late and again finished third, this time just 1.75 lengths behind winner Officer Class.
The stable clearly knew the time was right and on the next occasion, running in a competitive MR 90 Handicap, Opening Night was backed to the exclusion of the other runners. He duly arrived, storming home by 3.75 lengths. His time of 56.86 sec was outstanding.

Unfortunately for his connections the handicappers were equally impressed with that performance and penalised him 4.5kg. That did not put him on good weight terms when he took on a stronger field in the Grade 3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap over 1000m.

He probably was not too happy when it started raining before the race and Opening Night did well to finish just 2.75 lengths off winner Noble Heir. The course continued to soften and the meeting was called off after that race.

While Opening Night drops in class in this race, he will have to shoulder 61kg. That means he will concede 9.5kg to stable companion Shalako, who will be ridden by apprentice JP van der Merwe and gets a 2.5kg claim.

Shalako pulled off a quick double in three days by winning at the Vaal on Sunday 7 February at a work-riders’ meeting and again at Turffontein on Tuesday night 9 February. Last week he did well again, running third to Secret Life in a MR 86 Handicap at the Vaal over 1000m.
One runner who could split the stablemates is Dianne Stenger’s Challenger Quay.

In his last start the son of West Man ran a one-length second to Shalako. He is, courtesy of Van der Merwe’s apprentice allowance, now 0.5kg worse off with the Binda runner but Challenger Quay is a strong front runner.

Last time out he carried 60kg, this time he has just 52.5kg, and if Francois Naude can get him away from his field, Challenger Quay may not stop this time.

Another interesting runner is Mr One-Eyed Jack. On form he is held by some of the other runners but it is interesting to note that the recently formed training combination of Penny Kimberley and Luchelle Kruger has engaged Anton Marcus.

His last two runs, both over 1200m, were behind top-class runners Polar Moon and Captain’s Gal respectively. In addition, three of his four wins have been over 1000m so he should give a good account of himself.

Marcus could be on the mark in Race 2 where he rides Sleek Queen for Dominic Zaki. The daughter of new sire King Of Kings flew late in her debut behind Giggs and should improve for the experience.

Only time jack milner gets it right is when ignoring th left

Shalako is a big runner today, but as I've said before he can be a tricky sod.

According to Interbet there was 5/1 available Sleek Queen?

Welldone Lucky you were due a winner...

I like ryan's a lion and gladius as a swinger

Swingers 2 x 6 x 7 and add 10 for the trifecta boxed

I wish Nico would learn to commentate what happens......he can't read a race well enough to anticipate !

He messes that up far to often.

Like Ryan Curling seems to love his job, never stops smilling..

Welldone to the Kniferacers..